——

A month and a half passed — quickly, as such things do. On the wedding day, Yan Yunning’s mother went to her room at four in the morning to rouse her from deep sleep. The makeup artist Xuan Yanyu had arranged was already waiting outside the main hall well ahead of time.

“Mom, the sky hasn’t even brightened yet.” Yan Yunning turned over and went back to sleep.

“Sweetheart, Xiao Yu is already on his way to the bridal pickup right now — if you don’t get up, when are we going to do your makeup?” The second aunt on the Yan side spoke in a gentle tone and pinched Yan Yunning’s little nose.

Little Ningning was being married from Yuanjin City, so at this hour Xiao Yu would certainly have already set out.

The first aunt on the Yan side leaned down beside Yan Yunning’s ear and teased, “Xiaoxia and the others have all gotten up to have their makeup done — you, the bride-to-be, aren’t going to get out of bed? You also need to eat a little something first. Will you get up?”

Yan Yunning didn’t even open her eyes. “There’s no rush. My brother said he’d keep Xuan Xixi at the door for at least an hour.”

“Jingjing said that?” The second aunt was at a loss for words.

“Don’t listen to him talking nonsense. He was secretly wiping his eyes in tears last night, saying Xiao Yu was getting a good deal. Your uncle already warned him to behave himself today — don’t count on your brother stalling for time.”

Yan Yunning rubbed her eyes, and some of the sleepiness faded. “All three brothers said the same thing.”

On the point of giving Xuan Xixi a hard time, the three of them were always in such perfect accord.

Yan Yunning’s mother: “……”

First Aunt: “……”

Second Aunt: “……”

Half past seven in the morning.

Her makeup done, Yan Yunning sat on the bridal bed wearing a star-shaped crown that held her veil in place, crystal tassel earrings, and an off-the-shoulder wedding gown. The shoulders and the full, voluminous skirt were adorned with fine rhinestones that shimmered with a delicate light — the silhouette of a princess.

Her delicate, stunning face bore curled lashes, cherry-red lips, and bright, luminous eyes — a beauty that seemed not of this mortal world.

“Little Ningning.” Yan Yunning’s mother pretended to fuss over the wedding gown as she gave one more anxious reminder. “Today, when the groomsmen start making things difficult, remember to have Xiao Yu protect you properly — you must be very careful.”

Ningning had chosen a full-skirted style of gown, and it wasn’t particularly form-revealing, so others wouldn’t notice anything. That was precisely why she worried all the more about some mishap if things got too rowdy.

Yan Yunning smiled and nodded. “I know, Mom. Don’t worry — with Xuan Xixi there, it’ll be fine. His mother has already given him instructions. They won’t dare bother me.”

“Ningning, photos — come on, photos!” Yan Yunning’s bridesmaid team gathered around her.

Yan Yunning and Xuan Yanyu had each assembled a team of six bridesmaids and six groomsmen. Seeing them come over, Yan Yunning called the photographer right over, and they began taking group photos.

Yan Yunning’s mother, seeing this, stepped out of the room to attend to the other guests.

“Ningning, where has the groom gotten to? How much longer until he arrives? We need to lock the door in advance.”

He Qingxia laughed along. “Ask him — find out where he is.”

“Okay.” Yan Yunning picked up her phone, opened the message thread, and sent: [Baby, where are you?]

The reply came instantly: [Less than half an hour. Darling, wait just a little longer.]

“Ohhhh~ Darling~ Baby~ So Xiao Xuan is like this in private?”

“Darling, will you secretly tell your baby where the bridal shoes are hidden later?”

Yan Yunning’s eyes curved with a smile. “Possibly~”

“Xiaoxia, block Ningning’s line of sight — go and hide them somewhere new.”

“Got it.” He Qingxia nodded and went to find a new hiding spot for the already-hidden shoes.

Yan Yunning blinked with an endearing flutter of her lashes. “I was joking.”

“Darling, we don’t believe you~” Everyone laughed and teased.

Yan Yunning: “……”

At eight-oh-eight, Xuan Yanyu and the groomsmen arrived at the villa entrance. With Yan Jingrang, Yan Jing’an, and Yan Jingjing blocking the doorway, He Qingxia smiled and showed everyone except the bridesmaid team out, then locked the bedroom door.

“This is quite a rare opportunity — before this, I’d only ever seen this heir to the Xuan Group in interviews. Today I finally get to go head to head with him.”

He Qingxia held the quiz cards in her hands, a scheming smile on her face. “I’m oddly excited.”

“Me too.”

Yan Yunning: “……”

Not wanting to waste too much time, Yan Jingrang didn’t let Yan Jingjing and Yan Jing’an draw things out too long before letting Xuan Yanyu and the groomsmen upstairs. Hearing a wave of footsteps approaching, He Qingxia and the others pressed themselves against the door and immediately called for red envelopes.

From the other side of the door, Mu Heng knocked and said, “If you won’t open the door, how are we supposed to pass the red envelopes through?”

“Through the gap at the bottom,” the bridesmaid team called back in unison.

Pei Shuluo smiled leisurely. “You’re underestimating our Brother Yu. The red envelopes Brother Yu prepared can’t fit through a door gap.”

There was ten thousand in each envelope — how could they possibly slide through a door crack?

He Qingxia and the others exchanged glances, then spoke up: “Alright — have the groom say one heartfelt, sincere line, something like: ‘Wife, I’m begging you, won’t you have them open the door?’ Then we’ll open it.”

The words had barely landed when the man’s low, magnetic voice drifted through the crack in the door: “Wife, I’m begging you — won’t you have them open the door?”

Before Yan Yunning could say anything, He Qingxia said, “That won’t do — you left out a word.”

“Wife, I’m begging you — won’t you please have them open the door~”

The bridesmaid team dissolved into laughter. “Ha ha ha, we said it and still won’t open it!”

Yan Zhiyi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t want the red envelopes?”

Pei Shunian negotiated with them. “Open the door just a crack, take the envelopes, then lock it again. Don’t worry — we absolutely will not take the chance to push it open.”

“Can we trust what you say?”

Pei Shunian assured them confidently, “Why couldn’t you? You can rest completely easy. We businessmen never go back on our word. I’m a company president — why would I trick a group of young ladies?”

We merely use clever means to achieve our objectives — that can hardly be called going back on one’s word, or trickery.

“Pei Shunian keeps his word.”

Pei Shunian answered as if it were only natural. “Absolutely.”

“Alright.” One of the bridesmaids unlocked the door. The moment her hand closed around the doorknob, the door was pushed open from outside.

“Pei Shunian made a promise — we didn’t.” Mu Heng grinned with brazen delight.

Before the bridesmaid team had even a moment to catch up, red envelopes had been pressed into their hands. The heavy packets hadn’t even had time to feel warm before complete sets of high-end skincare, jewellery and accessories, and luxurious gifts were also placed into their arms.

“Thank you for your gracious cooperation, beautiful ladies.” Mu Heng went along and gave out one red envelope to each of them individually.

The bridesmaid team exchanged glances, each smile brighter than the last. “Of course!”

Yan Yunning: “……?”

True to their word about cooperating, He Qingxia picked an easy question to ask:

“Will you always listen to your wife? Will you always treat her well? Will you hand over your salary entirely? And if you argue, who apologizes first?”

Xuan Yanyu placed the hand bouquet he was holding into Yan Yunning’s hands, and with laughter in his eyes as he looked at her, his voice warm and bright: “I will always listen to my wife, will always love her and treat her well, will hand over my salary entirely, and from now on I won’t argue with my wife.”

He Qingxia flicked the quiz card in her hand. “Not a bad answer.”

One of the bridesmaids said with a grin, “Xiao Xuan, pick one of the groomsmen, carry him in a princess hold, do squats, and shout loudly: ‘I married Yan Yunning today — I swear I will love Yan Yunning for the rest of my life.'”